I just had this conversation today with one of the guys I wheel with. There is no point in lifting a 2WD truck for purpose...

Also, there is no sense in taking a 4x4 and turning it into a street truck for optimum performance....

Don't get me wrong, some people like the low trucks and have the 4x4 availability for the winter time...and thats fine. However, in my neck of the woods...if you have lowered your 4x4 truck at all...you won't get anywhere when we get 3'+ in the winter time.......at all.......

 

2wd is easier to lift, engineer, and manufacture parts for than 4wd. I don't have 2wd but if I did I would still lift it. IMO, there's no reason my 2wd truck can't still look and feel like a truck no matter what the case [pun intended ] The point in it would be b/c one likes the look of a lifted truck.

Regardless, if a lift was made for my 4wd Dakota, even if I had it IFS lifted it would still be more a street truck. I think a Dakota could handle mild trails but not serious ones. My jeep Cj7 tugs 38" tires on solid axles for a reason...the same reason every serious 2nd gen Dakota owner does a SAS.

 

You can still have fun with a 2wd truck. I was out tonight muddin. Now I didnt hit anything big. 1 because I only have BFG Mud Terrian tires, 2 because I only have a 2'' leveling kit, and 3 because the truck doesnt have a ton of power. I live in Florida no need to have a 4x4 when you can have fun with a 2wd truck. Dont get me wrong I would love to convert my 2wd into a 4x4 eventually but for now I gonna have fun with my 2wd truck

 

I'm wondiering if we would need different rims to fit the new arms?

 

A 2WD lift is defintely more for looks. But some extra ground clearance never hurt. As studly said, its cheaper too. Keep in mind, alot of Baja 1000 trucks are 2WD's with insane amounts of suspension travel and great tires.

4WD helps when you add water or snow to the dirt, but for dry trails or moderately wet ones, I've always been pretty confident in my truck. Of course, it was pretty cool to see my buddies 07 Ram plow out of a huge drift in 4LO

 

Well when I was talking to him, via email, i wasnt talking about a 4x2 kit specifically. If he makes a mild lift kit, like a 3/2, there really wounldnt be too much more involved in a 4x4 kit. Control arms and a diff drop. But if your dropping the front diff like 1.5", wouldnt they just use spacers, how hard is that to make? Unless there is some sort of clearance issue, then a few more parts come into play.

 

Monkeywrench did they tell you an estimate on cost?

 

"We are just getting to the 05+ dakots, will be approx. 2 to 3 months for lift. Thanks for info on suspension, will pay close attention on making good control arms for this kit"

Thats pretty much what he said in the email. Hopefully we are going to see a kit.

No mention of cost.

 

I was checking out the RAM lifts and I'd bet the cost of a Dakota lift would be about 10% - 20% less than the RAM kits. And those 4x4 Ram kits are $1000+.

 

I can't wait for a lift kit !!